Shoppers make a difference to CHUF charity

Four-year-old Daisie Haggerston from North Shields who is being treated at the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital for five holes in her heart.

Kind-hearted shoppers can now make a difference to a major charity – and own a limited edition memento of a unique chandelier.

This summer intu Metrocentre will be unveiling a spectacular chandelier, the Heart of a Thousand Crystals, which will be the main feature of the new Platinum Mall.

And the centre has come up with a plan to make this a really memorable event which will raise funds for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF).

A thousand replica crystal hearts have been created – each one individually boxed and numbered with a certificate of authenticity – which will go sale from Thursday, May 1, for £20 each.

The hope is now to sell all of the hearts and make £20,000 for CHUF’s Home from Home appeal, which is raising £2m to set up a special unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital where the families of children being treated can stay, free of charge.

“The Heart of a Thousand Crystals is going to be a stunning addition to the new Platinum Mall,” said Gavin Prior, General Manager at intu Metrocentre.

“And that fact that 1000 people can own a special part of it and help this amazing cause at the same time is very exciting for us. We have already received almost 200 requests for the replica hearts, so we hope people will respond quickly so they’re not disappointed.”

The hearts will be available from Customer Services Desks around the centre and the hope is that they will be sold in a short space of time and so support the important Home from Home project.

CHUF is working towards careering a new, purpose-built unit which will provide 18 en-suite bedrooms and a self-contained flat for families and their children who are undergoing life-saving heart surgery.

“Children being treated at the Freeman Hospital heart unit are critically ill and many travel a long way from home to receive their treatment,” said Ivan Hollingsworth, one of the CHUF trustees.

“They often have to stay there for long periods of time so it’s vital for their families to be able to stay close by to help with patients recover from often very traumatic surgery.

“The fact that intu Metrocentre is supporting our Home from Home appeal is very honourable of them and we hope that shoppers will buy a heart and not only have a unique memento of a magical chandelier but will also know that they are helping a very important cause.”